Tear-gas projectile



New 112 1929. R. J. ALDEN PEAR GAS PROJECTILE Original Filed March 16, 1926 IN V EN TOR.

7 41 ATTORNEYS.

' Nov l2, ieze REGINALD J. ALDEN, OF FITCHBUEG, MASSACHUSETTS TEAIt-GAS PROJECTILE Application filed March 16, 1926, Serial No. 95,083. Renewed April 8, 1929.

This invention relates to small arms ammunition and more particularly to a cartridge having a projectile or bullet consisting of any suitable material such as a mass of powder,

liquid, liquefied gas, gas or the like, for example which is adapted to be fired from a short range gun in a confined state and be dispersed over a considerable area at a predetermined time or range.

to My improved cartridge is especially designed to be used in any suitable short range or firearm and to fire a projectile, such or example as one containing an impalpable powder, volatile liquid or gas of tear producmg nature or otherwise disabling character so as to render an assailant temporarily help less, but not to ermanently injure him.

One of the o jects of my invention is to rovidea short range cartridge having a pro-v ectile in the nature of a container and an arrangement whereby the contents of the container will be dispersed and scattered without impact at or near the target and at a predetermined time or rangein other words, a- 2 time fused projectile. 1

Another object is .to provide such a cartridge wherein the novel means to accomplish my purpose are extremely simple and which are such that the range at which the so pro'ectile will be dispersed can be varied wit in wide limits by slight changes in the nature and construction of the pro ectile.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross section of my improved cartridge;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross section of a modification of the manner of constructing the projectile used in my cartridge; and

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4.- l of Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 1 which represents a pre- 4 ferred embodiment of my invention, 1 repre sents the usual cartrid e case preferably made of cartridge brass wit the rear or head end closed and provided with the primer 2. Inside the case 1 adjacent the primer 2 is the explosive or propelling charge of powder 3,

the amount of same depending upon the range desired to be obtained with the particular character and construction of projectile used.

My projectile consists of a cylindrical cup shaped container 4 filled with impalpable powder, liquid or gas 5 for obtaining the desired results and is sealed at its open end with a wad 6. The container 4 is constructed of any suitable inflammable material such as celluloid, nitrocellulose or the like and is adapted to fit snugly within the case 1 with the inner or closed end 7 of the container against the shoulder 7' which is formed inside the shell in any suitable manner. The end wall 7 of the container 4 thus serves as the wad for the powdercharge 3. The inner end 7 is constructed usuall of greater thickness than the side walls of the container for a purpose which will now be described.

The projectile is preferably wholly or mainly confined within the case 1 which is adapted to be fired from a short barrel gun so that the space 8 at the month end of the case serves as a short barrel for the projectile. When the. cartridge is fired from such a gun with a suitable propelling or explosive charge, the rear end of the projectile, namely the rear end wall 7, is ignited before it leaves the case 1 due to the action of the explosive charge on the inflammable material of the end wall 7 of the container 4. It will be apparent as soon as the rear wall of the container 4 is burned through that the side walls thereof will in turn burn-up leaving the contents of the container unconfined whereby they will be dispersed over a considerable area due to the air resistance offered the projectile when the container 4 is obliterated during its flight. It follows that the length or time of flight of the projectile or the range at which dispersion takes place is dependent upon the inflammability of the container and the thickness of the rear wall, the other elements remaining the same.

I have thus provided a cartridge having a projectile which by very simple and novel means is time fused to disperse a powder, liquid or gas at a predetermined range. The range at which the projectile will be dispersed is easily varied in the manufacture of same by varying the thickness of the rear wall or the infiammability of the container 4.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown a modification in the construction of the projectile which consists of forming same in capsule form b using two telescoping cup shaped cylindrical members 9 and 10, one of which; preferably the inner member 10 having its side walls corrugated or grooved longitudinally thereof. With this construction it is unnecessary to use a Wad to seal the open end of the projectile as shown in F ig.. 1 as the end wall 12 performs this function. Provision is also made for quickly burning up the side walls as soon as the end wall is burned through as the corrugations or grooves of the side walls of the member 10 in relation to ungrooved side walls of memher 9 form air pockets 11 which extend lengthwise of the projectile from the end wall 'l3 of member 9 to the end Wall 12 of member 10 thereby assisting materially in the burning up oftheside walls after the end wall 13 is burned through.

While I have described and shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, itis understood that the scope of same is to be defined by the appended claims rather than j by the foregoing description.

Claims: 1. A cartridge comprising a shell provided with a primer and an explosive propelling charge, a projectile comprising a container of inflammable material filled with a temporary disabling agent mainly confined within. said shell, said container having-an end wall adapted to be ignited by the explosion of said charge and side walls constructed with longitudinal air pockets therein so that said agent is dispersed at a predetermined range when said walls are burned through.

2. A cartridge comprising a shell'provided with a primer and an explosive propelling charge, a projectile comprising a/container of inflammable material filled 'with a temporary disabling agent mainly confined within said shell, said container being constructed in capsule form of two telescoping members and having an end wall adapted to,

be ignited by the explosion of said charge, the side walls of one of said members being longitudinally corrugated to form air pockets in said container so that said agent is dispersed at a predetermined range when the walls of said container are burned through.

In testimony whereof I have afixed my signature.

- REGINALD J. ALDEN. 

